2 out of 7 || reddie

nine

The next day, Richie woke up to a string of texts. The school was closed for a holiday.

Bev M: hey losers

Bev M renamed the chat 'losers'

Bill D: Hey

Stanley U: Hello

Bev M: Who wants to hang out? Diner in 2 hours?

Stanley U: Sure

Bill D: Yep

Ben H: I'll be there!

Eddie K: yeah sure

Richie T: R u paying

Bev M: i can pay for u rich

Richie T: K

Mike H: See you there

30 minutes after the last text was sent, Richie was banging on Eddies door.

"What are you doing here, dipshit?"

Richie smiled hopefully, "I'm bored."

Eddie let him in. "We're literally meeting everyone in a half an hour."

"Like I said, bored."

They made their way to the couch and Richie took in how perfect Eddie looked. He was wearing a big sweater and his shorts, despite the fact that it was turning into fall, and of course his fannypack. His hair was neatly combed and he looked adorably tired.

"You tired, eds?" Richie asked as Eddie yawned and turned on the TV.

"A little."

Eddie could barely keep his eyes opened. Awhile into watching TV, Richie felt something on his shoulder. It was Eddies head, of course. His heart started to beat out of his chest, but he didn't want to disturb Eddie, so he calmed down and let the boy sleep. He wished he had the courage to wrap his arm around him.

When it was time to go, Richie cleared his throat and nudged Eddie. "Eds- uh we gotta go meet the others."

Eddie jolted up, removing his head from Richies shoulder, clearly flustered. "Okay, let's go."

-

The 7 teens had just wrapped up lunch. They were waiting for the bill, and Richie and Eddie were flirting the whole time. Everyone could tell. The teasing was non stop.

"When's the wedding?" Bev asked and smiled at them. Richie glared at her. Surely he was going to kill her.

The two boys looked at each other, then back at Bev. "What?" They said in unison.

The group laughed a little. "You guys wont stop with the flirting." Bev clarified. Not fucking cool, Richie thought.

"You're crazy." Richie said while his eyes burned holes into the ground.

-

"Wanna go to the park?" Richie asked Eddie. They were driving home from the diner and Richie didn't want his time with Eddie to end. "Sure."

As they sat on the bench and talked about their favorite music, Richie felt the urge to say something about what Bev had said at the diner. He wanted to know how Eddie felt about it. Needed to know. He was itching for something, he wanted to tell him something, anything to hint towards the fact that Richie liked him.

"So- what was Bev talking about back there?" Richie asked and chuckled nervously.

Eddie simply shrugged. Richie was about to speak up again when Eddie blurted out, "Do you like her?"

Richie looked at him, confused. Liked who? Was he talking about Bev?

"That girl you saw yesterday, I mean." He clarified.

Richie laughed a little, "God, no. Not interested."

Eddie nodded, and was immediately relieved.

It seemed like a good time. He wanted to tell him. He was so scared, his palms were sweating and his leg was bouncing up and down. His face was red and he stared at the grass for so long his eyes hurt.

"Rich? You okay?" Eddie asked after noticing the way Richie was acting.

"Eddie-" He started, he was going to do it.

"Yeah?" Eddie answered, a little confused.

"I like you. I- have a crush on you. God, I know that sounds dumb. I don't know how else to say it."

"Oh."

Richies heart plummeted.

Eddie couldn't think, he stood up quickly. "Im sorry- I have to go."

Richie watched Eddie leave, he wanted desperately to run after him, to tell him it was a joke, to take it back, to beg him not to leave. Nothing would come out. Until the realization hit and the tears started to fall.

-

"Hey bud, how was-" Wentworth started as Richie arrived home after he collected himself at the park. Yet he was already crying again. Wentworth was doing the dishes and Richie ignored him and went upstairs. He slammed him door and face planted onto his bed.

After awhile, Richie heard a knock and his door opening. His dad sat at the edge of his bed.

"What happened, Rich?"

Richie sat up and wiped his eyes, he was embarrassed for his dad to see him like this.

He shook his head, "Cant say." His dad had no idea he was gay.

"Why not?"

"I just can't."

"You can, you know that."

Richie sighed, "I got rejected."

"Rejected? By who?"

Richie thought this would be how he told him, considering he didn't want to say the words, 'I'm gay.'

"Eddie."

"Oh," Wentworth cleared his throat, he wasn't expecting that. Richie wanted to scream, people needed to stop saying 'oh' in that tone.

"I'm sorry, kid. Rejection happens."

Richie looked up at him, surprised. "You don't care?"

"Of course not." He smiled reassuringly.

"Don't tell mom."

"I wouldn't."

"Can I be alone now?" Richie asked, he had too much going on in his brain. Wentworth nodded and stood up, patted his back and left.